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40693 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Percy Lock was born on 6 June 1897 at the Manor House, Beyton, Suffolk. He was one of four surviving children of Henry William Joseph and Mary Ann Lock. His father was a gentleman farmer in Beyton. Percy enlisted in Bury St Edmunds and served with the Northamptonshire Regiment (formerly 19591) before transferring to the Suffolk Regiment. The 11th Battalion formed part of 101st Brigade, 34th Division and landed in France at Boulogne in January 1916.
On 21 March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive. Operation Michael was a vast attack along the whole Somme sector front with the aim to destroy the British Army. The Germans advanced quickly and deeply with heavy losses for the Allies during March and April 1918. Percy’s battalion fought off the enemy advance on 10 and 11 April at Erquinghem during the Battle of the Lys (9 – 29 April 1918).
Percy was killed in action on 19 April 1918 and lies buried in Suffolk Cemetery, La Rolanderie Farm, Erquinghem-Lys, Nord, France. The cemetery is very small and contains only 35 graves with access through a farmyard and across an open muddy field. Percy lies close to another Sudbury man Percy Partridge.
Percy is also remembered on the Beyton War Memorial. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid by his grave in October 2010.
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